Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1997 record →
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES WHILE TOWING A TRAILER, TRANSMISSION KICKED OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. THIS COULD CAUSE A BAD CRASH BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS JUST FREE WHEELING. FORD WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO TWO DEALERSHIPS, OWNER WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. *AK ANY TIME THE DRIVER STEPS ON THE BRAKE, THE GEAR SHIFTS AUTOMATICALLY TO NEUTRAL CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. *YH
I HEARD A LOUD VIBRATING OR THUMPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED AT A FIRESTONE IN SANTA FE, WHERE THEY SHOWED ME THAT LAYERS OF THREE OF THE TIRES WERE PEELING OFF FROM THE INSIDE. I BOUGHT 4 NEW TIRES ON THE SPOT -- AT JUST 26,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. (TIRESIZE: LT245/75R)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT245/75R )
NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245 85RL6 )
PE 00 040/TIRE FAILURE: WHILE REPAIRING A TIRE AT A SERVICE STATION, NOTICED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH CRACKS AROUND THE SIDEWALLS MOUNTED. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, LT 235/85R16, FIRESTONE NOTIFIED. *AK *SLC
THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED 2 DIFFERENT TIMES, WITH BOTH FRONT TIRES IN JULY OF 99 AND 00. BEING THAT THIS HAPPENED TWICE ON 1 VEHICLE AND HAPPENED IN SUCH A CRITICAL AREA AS THE STEERING, I FEEL THAT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 1 VEHICLE TO WHICH THIS HAS OCCURRED. I FEEL OBLIGATED TO REPORT THIS AS THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THESE PARTS EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENED TO US TWICE ON THE SAME VEHICLE AT LOW MILEAGE. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT IT HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED. YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT THERE ARE LIVES AT STAKE.*AK
SIDE WALLS BULGING FROM BEAD TO THE TREAD AND CIRCUMFERENCE MIDWAY ON THE SIDEWALLS (TIRESIZE: LT 235/85)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT 235/85 )
THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF A LETTER THAT I SENT TO FIRESTONE ON 8-10-2000. ALL THAT THEY DID WAS SEND ME FORM LETTER THAT DIDN'T EVEN APPLY TO MY TIRE. CAN YOU ASSIST IN OBTAINING COMPENSATION?: IN 1997, I PURCHASED A NEW 1997 FORD F-250 EXTENDED CAB LWB DIESEL TRUCK (FROM VALLEY FORD IN ONEONTA, AL). IT CAME EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE "STEELTEX RADIAL A/T LT 235 85 R16 M/S" TIRES.I WAS VERY CAREFUL TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER TIRE PRESSURE AND STAY WELL UNDER THE RATED CARRYING CAPACITY AT ALL TIMES FOR SAFETY REASONS. ON 3-24-2000, APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AFTER I HAD (COINCIDENTALLY, I SUPPOSE) CHECKED FOR THE PROPER PRESSURES AND CAREFULLY INSPECTED ALL THE TIRES, WHILE LOADED AT OVER 1 TON LESS THAN THE BED CARRYING CAPACITY, TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 50 MPH AFTER DARK IN A MOSTLY RURAL AREA, THE LEFT REAR TIRE LITERALLY EXPLODED. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL, BUT I MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL ONTO A CONCRETE DRIVE AND CHANGE THE TIRE. THE WHEEL HUB WAS SERIOUSLY ABRADED/SCRATCHED. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE LEFT OF THE TIRE. I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF HITTING ANYTHING AFTER THE ABOVE DESCRIBED TIRE INSPECTION.EVEN THOUGH I HAD AT LEAST 40% TREAD LEFT ON ALL TIRES, THIS SCARED ME SO MUCH THAT I WENT AND BOUGHT A NEW SET OF FOUR TIRES THE VERY NEXT DAY.I HAD NOT GIVEN IT ANY MORE THOUGHT UNTIL THE RECENT PUBLICITY OVER FAILURES OF FIRESTONE RADIAL TIRES COMING AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS DURING THIS PERIOD. SO, IN MY OPINION, A VERY CAREFULLY MAINTAINED TIRE (AS MINE WAS), WELL "UN
RE: TWO ORIGINAL TIRES SOLD WITH TRUCK - ONE SPLIT AND ONE SEPARATED AT 14,000 MILES. TIRES REPLACED WITH FIRESTONE TIRES ON 7/7/99. FORTUNATELY, THEY FAILED IN TOWN AND NOT ON THE ROAD PULLING SOMETHING. I HEARD ON TV LAST WEEK (10/2/00), THAT FORD OR FIRESTONE WERE INVESTIGATING FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIALS TIRES ON FORD F250 SERIES ANOTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE TWO OTHER ORIGINAL TIRES SPLITTING AT 19,860 MILES. MY CONCERN IS THE TRUCK PULLS A 5TH WHEEL 4-6 TIMES A YEAR FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES EACH WAY. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF ANY RECALL ON THESE TIRES OR IF FIRESTONE WILL REPLACE THE TIRES?
4 TIRES HAVE BUBBLES IN THE SIDEWALLS, INDICATING SEPARATION OF TREAD FROM BELTS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNOR 1XK TIRESIZE: 235/85SR16) (DOT NUMBER: VNOR 1XK TIRESIZE: 235/85SR16)
WHILE DRIVING A 1997, FORD, F250 CARGO VAN WITH A REPLACEMENT FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX RADIAL FRONT PASSENGER TIRE, 22575R16. TIRE SUDDENLY SEPARATED. THERE WERE THREE TIRES LEFT ON THIS VAN. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE CUSTOMER FEELS UNSAFE DRIVING WITH FIRESTONE TIRES. *YH
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL CHATTERS AND DOES NOT STOP TRUCK , ONLY WHEN I LIFT MY FOOT AND APPLY THE BRAKE IT WORKS. *AK
CUSION RUBBER COMING THROUGH TREAD RUBBER ON ALL 4 TIRES,6/32 TREAD LEFT,HAS NOT CAUSED PROBLEM YET, LOCAL DEALER (NOT FIRESTONE)DIDNT LIKE THE WAY IT LOOKS,FIRESTONE HAD NO COMMENT. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNOR 1XK TIRESIZE: 235X85X16)
DAMAGE TO TIRE WELL, RIGHT REAR FENDER,MUFFLER AND TAIL-LIGHT DUE TO TIRE TREAD PEELING OFF ON HIGHWAY I84 IN S.W. IDAHO. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VDOR1XK087 TIRESIZE: LT2358516M)
ALL FOUR (4) TIRES ARE SPLITTING ON THE SIDEWALLS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: C39816 TIRESIZE: LT23585R16)
REMAINING 3 TIRES SHOW STRESS MARKS ON SIDEWALLS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 8XORRAB359 TIRESIZE: LT23585R16)
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WAS ON HIS WAY TO THE AIRPORT. HE WAS IN FRONT FOR A DROP OFF, AND REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE BLEWOUT. HE HAD TO CALL A TOWING COMING TO COME REPAIR IT. FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX RADIALS, R4S 16INCH, THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK DOT # VDOR. *SLC
THE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE BLOW OUT WAS LOCATED AT THE INSIDE SIDEWALL, THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO HOLES THAT COULD BE FOUND. WE BROUGHT THE TIRE INTO FIRESTONE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD FIND A HOLE BECAUSE THESE TIRES DON'T JUST BLOW. I WAS ALSO TOLD ON THE PHONE THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I HAD SUCH A HEAVY DUTY VEHICLE, OTHERWISE THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ROLLED. JUST APPALLING TO HEAR SOMETHING LIKE THAT FROM A PERSON THAT WORKS AT THE FIRESTONE STORE. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THERE IS RECALLS HAPPENING NOW. WE ASKED IF THIS PARTICULAR TIRE WAS BEING RECALLED, BUT WAS TOLD "NO". WE ENDED UP BUYING ANOTHER TIRE AND THEY PRORATED THE RATE.*AK (TIRESIZE: 26575R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 26575R16 )
HEAD LIGHT SWITCH WILL TURN ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY DURING OPERATION , AND AT TIMES, IT IS DIFFCULT TO TURN IT ON. SWITCH WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANY, AND ONLY LASTED FOR 1 YEAR. DEFECT HAS REOCCURRED. *AK WHEN DOME LIGHT IS TURNED ON THE HEAD LIGHT GOES OFF BECAUSE THE SWITCH IS THE SAME FOR BOTH. *YH
THE TIE ROD END FAILED, WHILE DRIVING THE BALL SEPARATED FROM THE CUP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *MJS
TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING ON DASH. THIS ONLY HAPPENS IN OVERDRIVE. WHEN THE LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH VEHICLE STARTS TO JERK, IT STOPS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TAKEN OUT OF OVERDRIVE. DELAER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF OUR DRIVE THE VEHICLE HAS TO STOP AND THE ENGINE SHOULD BE TURNED OFF. SEVERAL DEALER COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *YH
THE LEFT FRONT TIRE STARTED SHOWING A SPOT WHERE THERE SEEMS TO BE A BLISTER (AIR POCKET) UNDER THE TREAD ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER. THE TREAD CAN BE PUSHED IN ABOUT AN 1/8 OF AN INCH. ALSO THE CENTER OF THE TIRE ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TREAD SHOWS A DARKER COLOR THAN THE REST OF THE RUBBER.( DOT NUMBER: VDOR1XK TIRE SIZE: LT235/85 R )
TIRE FAILURE. TIRES ARE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P255/70 R16 109 M/S. IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CALL ME. (CLAIM# 49-3225-909) *MW
PE00020, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON 1997, FORD, F250, CT235/85R16. REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE HAD A BUBBLE WHICH SEEMED AS IF STEEL BELT WAS GOING TO SEPARATE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THEN. *AK
TREAD CAME OFF OF TIRES AND SLAPPED THE SIDE OF TRUCK, CAUSING BODY DAMAGE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )
WHILE INDICATING THAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMSSION WAS IN "PARK" POSITION, IN FACT TRANSMISSION GEAR WAS IN "NUETRAL POSITION" WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A ROLLAWAY. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 97V17000 ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A F250. TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.*AK FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL A/T LT235/85/R16 M/S DOT# VDOR1WW *MW
THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL (265/75/16) EXPERIENCED BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING, THE TREAD SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE, TIRE SIZE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *MJS
AT 25 MPH THE VEHILCE TIE ROD PULL APART.....DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT WAS NOT COVER UNDER A MFR'S RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS:
THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL (265/75/16) TIRE ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, TIRE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *MJS
TREAD SEPERATED FROM LEFT REAR TIRE WHILE TRAVELING @ 75 MPH ON I-10 BETWEEN QUEEN CREEK & RIGGS ROAD EXITS. THE TIRE DID NOT LOOSE PRESSURE. ON CLOSER INSPECTION OF REMAINING THREE TIRES, EVIDENCE OF TREAD COMING APART. FORD DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR TIRE WARRENTY. DAMAGE TO WHEEL WELL AND TRUCK BED CAUSED BY THE SEPERATED TIRE TREAD. TIRES ARE ORGINAL TIRES ON TRUCK WHEN BOUGHT FROM DEALER. ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, STILL HAVE ALL ORGINAL TIRES FOR INSPECTION. WHILE NOT FIRESTONES SOUND LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT235/85RX )
MY TIRES WERE SEVERELY WORN ON THE INSIDE EDGES. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES AND WENT TO HAVE THE TRUCK ALIGNED. VIRGINIA SPRING AND ALIGNMENT, ARLINGTON, VA, 22213, INFORMED ME THAT MY RIGHT FRONT SPRING WAS DANGEROUSLY WEAK AND HAD CAUSED THE UPPER BALL JOINT TO BECOME LOOSE. THEY SAID EVERY FORD 250 DIESEL THEY SEE HAS THIS PROBLEM AND THAT FORD DID NOT PUT STRONG ENOUGH SPRINGS ON THESE TRUCKS. FORD IN FACT HAD ISSUED TSB-96-23-16 WHICH CALLED FOR ADDING A LEAF TO EACH FRONT SPRING AND REALIGNMENT. THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE DEFECT IN MY TRUCK BECAUSE IT HAS OVER 36,000 MILES ON IT. IF THIS SPRING FAILS, A 3/4 TON TRUCK GOES OUT OF CONTROL. *AK
THREE TIRES HAD STEEL BELT STICKING OUT CASING OF TIRE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/85/16 )
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT23585R16 )
MY VEHICLE EXHIBITS CRACKS IN THE DOOR SHEET METAL AT THE LOWER REAR OF THE BELT MOLDING ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDES. THESE CRACKS ARE RUSTING AND IN TIME WILL COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE DOORS AND THEREBY THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.*AK
THIS TRUCK LOOKS BRAND NEW,HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED,MAN THAT FIXED IT SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ONE DO THIS UNLESS THE TRUCK WAS BEAT ALL TO PIECES,AND THIS ONE ISNT, HE FIGURES IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *AK
STRUCTURE OF THE BODY HAD A CRACK. CRACK IS STARTED AT THE WINDOW OPENING, AND WAS WORKING ITS WAY REARWARD. ALSO, NOTICED WHEN WASHING VEHICLE PAINT WAS CHIPPING BECAUSE THE CRACK BEHIND THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR POST WAS GETTING BIGGER. *AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES REAR END VIBRATES. *AK PARKING BRAKES ARE STICKS ON CAUSING VIBRATION AND INADEQUATE BRAKING. *YH
SPARE TIRE CARRIER FAILED CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL OFF. YH
FIRST AIR SPRING ON DRIVERS SIDE BLEW LAST SUMMER AND WAS REPLACED. THE OTHER ONE, PASSENGER SIDE, BLEW LAST FRIDAY. BOTH FAILURES OCCURRED WITH TRUCK CAMPER ON BOARD, BUT VEHICLE WAS NOT OVER LOADED. FAILURES WERE EXPLOSIVE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE LOWING SUDDENLY ON THE SIDE AFFECTED. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING STRAIGHT AHEAD BOTH TIMES, BUT FAILURE ON A CORNER COULD RESULT IN VEHICLE ROLLING OVER. COMPONENT DOES NOT APPEAR TO MATCH THE LOAD RATING OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
TORSION BAR SNAPPED WITH NO WARNING. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, YET WAS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAD TO PAY FOR TOWING AND RENTAL CAR WHILE MY TRUCK WAS DISABLED. I THINK FORD SHOULD COVER THIS REPAIR AS THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK
TORSION BAR FAILURE, CAUSED SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK
LEFT FRONT CROSSMEMBER DEVELOPED A CRACK NEAR THE STEERING BOX CAR HAD CLONK IN FRONT END DEALER INSPECTED AND FOUND CRACK - TOLD BY FORD DEALER THAT THE PROCEDURE WAS TO WELD THE CROSSMEMBER BACK IN PLACE AND THEY WOULD WARRANTY IT FOR 12 MTHS/12000 MILES (ONLY). VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY (BUMPER TO BUMPER) 36000 MILES. FORD MOTOR COMPANY TOLD US TO FOLLOW DEALER'S ADVICE..WORK DONE WAS SHODDY...AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE WELDING WEAKENS THE FRAME...WELDER ALSO MADE BURN MARKS IN CROSS MEMBER THUS WEAKENING METAL MORE. FRAME SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE AND NOT CRACK ALREADY..OR BE WARRANTIED FOR 12 MONTHS...NEED ADVICE...FEEL VEHICLE IS UNSAFE...HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF HORRID WELDING JOB. *AK
METAL ON THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE SEAT TO THE TRACK HAS DETERIORATED, CAUSING DRIVER'S SEAT TO ROCK BACK AND FOWARD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. SEAT HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK *ML
WHEN DRIVING STEERING WAS NOT RESPONSIVE. HAD A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, FRONT END FELT LIKE WAS NOT ROLLING FREELY, AND NO ADEQUATE STEERING CONTROL. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTUR. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO ALIGN THE FRONT END. *AK
THE FRONT HUBS WOULD NOT LOCK IN LOW RANGE WITHOUT THE FRONT END MAKING A LOUD BANG THEN GRIND, THEN FAILED COMPLETELY. *MJS
CRACK IN DRIVERS DOOR FRAME NEAR THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER AROUND THE WINDOW. *AK
FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING OUT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
TURN SIGNALS WOULD FAIL TO STAY ON IF ROAD BEARS OPPOSITE OF SIGNAL. LEFT TURN ROAD BEARING RIGHT SLIGHTLY, WOULD TURN SIGNAL OFF. THE SIGNAL CAN TURN ITSELF OFF. TURN SIGNAL WAS REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP. BUT, PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED, UNABLE TO BE FIXED, DEALERSHIP STATES THAT IS THE FUNCTION OF THE SIGNAL, CONSUMER MOST HOLD SIGNAL ON WITH ONE HAND AND STEER WITH THE OTHER. *AK
WHEN TRAVELING AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SKID, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, PARTS REPLACED. *AK
BALLJOINTS GRINDING, METAL ON METAL, FAILURE DUE TO UNSERVICEABLE TYPE BALLJOINTS FROM THE FACTORY. *AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1997 Ford F-250 → · Every F-250 year → · How the figures are calculated →